Resident Feature

Medical School: Cairo University (MD) / Emory University (PhD)

Why Northwestern: Chicago is a beautiful city and is really one of the best places to be to exposed to cultural diversity, great food, vibrant life, and overall, a balanced life. I had already lived here for two years at the time I applied for residency and knew I wouldn't want to go elsewhere for my training. Northwestern is a tertiary hospital with a high volume and world-renowned experts, which I knew would expose me to the rigor of training needed to become a competent pathologist. Moreover,  as someone with an interest in digital pathology, I was impressed with the push towards slide digitization and expansion of whole-slide scanning. That, combined with the great vibes I got from my interviews with residents and faculty made this an easy choice. Now that I've been here for two years, I can say that the single best thing about working here is comradery between my co-residents and the community around me. I know it's a cliche, but the people are who make a place what it is. 

What do you enjoy doing when not behind the scope: Spending time with my family and friends. Chicago makes this easy, as I can do something different every single weekend and still be left with new things to explore. 

Any advice for future Match applicants: Take it easy on yourself and realize how far you've come. Just being at the stage where you're applying for the match is a tremendous accomplishment and you should remember that. Be kind to yourself and assume the best in people. Write down a concrete list of steps you need to complete and just walk down that list without overthinking. Don't try to hard to be "interesting" on paper — just be authentic (really!). It is going to be OK.

Fun fact about yourself: I have a beautiful daughter who dictates my life and is the best thing that ever happened to me. I spent a year in Okinawa — such a fun place to be! Oh and, I am a computer programmer with experience in machine learning.